<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <title> Postfix manual - postscreen(8) </title> </head> <body> <pre> POSTSCREEN(8) POSTSCREEN(8) <b>NAME</b> postscreen - Postfix zombie blocker <b>SYNOPSIS</b> <b>postscreen</b> [generic Postfix daemon options] <b>DESCRIPTION</b> The Postfix <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server performs triage on multi- ple inbound SMTP connections at the same time. While a single <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> process keeps spambots away from Postfix SMTP server processes, more Postfix SMTP server processes remain available for legitimate clients. This program should not be used on SMTP ports that receive mail from end-user clients (MUAs). In a typical deploy- ment, <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> is used on the "port 25" service, while MUA clients submit mail via the <b>submission</b> service, or via a "port 25" server that provides no MX service (i.e. a dedicated server that provides <b>submission</b> service on port 25). <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> maintains a temporary whitelist for clients that have passed a number of tests. When an SMTP client IP address is whitelisted, <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> hands off the connection immediately to a Postfix SMTP server process. This minimizes the overhead for legitimate mail. By default, <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> logs statistics and hands off every connection to a Postfix SMTP server process, while excluding clients in <a href="postconf.5.html#mynetworks">mynetworks</a> from all tests (primarily, to avoid problems with non-standard SMTP implementations in network appliances). This mode is useful for non- destructive testing. In a typical production setting, <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> is config- ured to reject mail from clients that fail one or more tests. <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> logs rejected mail with the client address, helo, sender and recipient information. <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> is not an SMTP proxy; this is intentional. The purpose is to keep spambots away from Postfix SMTP server processes, while minimizing overhead for legitimate traffic. <b>SECURITY</b> The <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server is moderately security-sensitive. It talks to untrusted clients on the network. The process can be run chrooted at fixed low privilege. <b>STANDARDS</b> <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc821">RFC 821</a> (SMTP protocol) <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1123">RFC 1123</a> (Host requirements) <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1652">RFC 1652</a> (8bit-MIME transport) <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1869">RFC 1869</a> (SMTP service extensions) <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1870">RFC 1870</a> (Message Size Declaration) <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1985">RFC 1985</a> (ETRN command) <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2034">RFC 2034</a> (SMTP Enhanced Status Codes) <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2821">RFC 2821</a> (SMTP protocol) Not: <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2920">RFC 2920</a> (SMTP Pipelining) <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3207">RFC 3207</a> (STARTTLS command) <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3461">RFC 3461</a> (SMTP DSN Extension) <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3463">RFC 3463</a> (Enhanced Status Codes) <a href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5321">RFC 5321</a> (SMTP protocol, including multi-line 220 banners) <b>DIAGNOSTICS</b> Problems and transactions are logged to <b>syslogd</b>(8). <b>BUGS</b> The <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> built-in SMTP protocol engine currently does not announce support for AUTH, XCLIENT or XFORWARD. Support for AUTH may be added in the future. In the mean time, if you need to make these services available on port 25, then do not enable the optional "after 220 server greeting" tests, and do not use DNSBLs that reject traffic from dial-up and residential networks. The optional "after 220 server greeting" tests involve <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a>'s built-in SMTP protocol engine. When these tests succeed, <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> adds the client to the tempo- rary whitelist but it cannot not hand off the "live" con- nection to a Postfix SMTP server process in the middle of a session. Instead, <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> defers attempts to deliver mail with a 4XX status, and waits for the client to disconnect. The next time a good client connects, it will be allowed to talk to a Postfix SMTP server process to deliver mail. <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> mitigates the impact of this limitation by giving such tests a long expiration time. <b>CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS</b> Changes to <a href="postconf.5.html">main.cf</a> are not picked up automatically, as <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> processes may run for several hours. Use the command "postfix reload" after a configuration change. The text below provides only a parameter summary. See <a href="postconf.5.html"><b>postconf</b>(5)</a> for more details including examples. NOTE: Some <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> parameters implement stress- dependent behavior. This is supported only when the default parameter value is stress-dependent (that is, it looks like ${stress?X}${stress:Y}, or it is the $<i>name</i> of an smtpd parameter with a stress-dependent default). Other parameters always evaluate as if the <b>stress</b> parame- ter value is the empty string. <b>COMPATIBILITY CONTROLS</b> <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_command_filter">postscreen_command_filter</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_command_filter">smtpd_command_filter</a>)</b> A mechanism to transform commands from remote SMTP clients. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_discard_ehlo_keyword_address_maps">postscreen_discard_ehlo_keyword_address_maps</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_discard_ehlo_keyword_address_maps">smtpd_dis</a>-</b> <b><a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_discard_ehlo_keyword_address_maps">card_ehlo_keyword_address_maps</a>)</b> Lookup tables, indexed by the remote SMTP client address, with case insensitive lists of EHLO key- words (pipelining, starttls, auth, etc.) that the <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server will not send in the EHLO response to a remote SMTP client. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_discard_ehlo_keywords">postscreen_discard_ehlo_keywords</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_discard_ehlo_keywords">smtpd_discard_ehlo_key</a>-</b> <b><a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_discard_ehlo_keywords">words</a>)</b> A case insensitive list of EHLO keywords (pipelin- ing, starttls, auth, etc.) that the <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server will not send in the EHLO response to a remote SMTP client. <b>TROUBLE SHOOTING CONTROLS</b> <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_expansion_filter">postscreen_expansion_filter</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b> List of characters that are permitted in <a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_reject_footer">postscreen_reject_footer</a> attribute expansions. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_reject_footer">postscreen_reject_footer</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_reject_footer">smtpd_reject_footer</a>)</b> Optional information that is appended after a 4XX or 5XX <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server response. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#soft_bounce">soft_bounce</a> (no)</b> Safety net to keep mail queued that would otherwise be returned to the sender. <b>PERMANENT WHITE/BLACKLIST TEST</b> This test is executed immediately after a remote SMTP client connects. If a client is permanently whitelisted, the client will be handed off immediately to a Postfix SMTP server process. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_access_list">postscreen_access_list</a> (<a href="postconf.5.html#permit_mynetworks">permit_mynetworks</a>)</b> Permanent white/blacklist for remote SMTP client IP addresses. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_blacklist_action">postscreen_blacklist_action</a> (ignore)</b> The action that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> takes when a remote SMTP client is permanently blacklisted with the <a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_access_list">postscreen_access_list</a> parameter. <b>MAIL EXCHANGER POLICY TESTS</b> When a remote SMTP client is not on the permanent access list, <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> can implement a number of whitelist tests before it grants the client a temporary whitelist status to talk to a Postfix SMTP server process. By listening on both primary and backup MX addresses, <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> can deny the temporary whitelist status to clients that connect only to backup MX hosts. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_whitelist_interfaces">postscreen_whitelist_interfaces</a> (<a href="DATABASE_README.html#types">static</a>:all)</b> A list of local <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server IP addresses where a non-whitelisted remote SMTP client can obtain <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a>'s temporary whitelist status. <b>BEFORE-GREETING TESTS</b> These tests are executed before the remote SMTP client receives the "220 servername" greeting. If no tests remain after the successful completion of this phase, the client will be handed off immediately to a Postfix SMTP server process. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#dnsblog_service_name">dnsblog_service_name</a> (dnsblog)</b> The name of the <a href="dnsblog.8.html"><b>dnsblog</b>(8)</a> service entry in mas- ter.cf. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_dnsbl_action">postscreen_dnsbl_action</a> (ignore)</b> The action that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> takes when a remote SMTP client's combined DNSBL score is equal to or greater than a threshold (as defined with the <a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_dnsbl_sites">postscreen_dnsbl_sites</a> and <a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_dnsbl_threshold">postscreen_dnsbl_thresh</a>- <a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_dnsbl_threshold">old</a> parameters). <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_dnsbl_reply_map">postscreen_dnsbl_reply_map</a> (empty)</b> A mapping from actual DNSBL domain name which includes a secret password, to the DNSBL domain name that postscreen will reply with when it rejects mail. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_dnsbl_sites">postscreen_dnsbl_sites</a> (empty)</b> Optional list of DNS white/blacklist domains, fil- ters and weight factors. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_dnsbl_threshold">postscreen_dnsbl_threshold</a> (1)</b> The inclusive lower bound for blocking a remote SMTP client, based on its combined DNSBL score as defined with the <a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_dnsbl_sites">postscreen_dnsbl_sites</a> parameter. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_greet_action">postscreen_greet_action</a> (ignore)</b> The action that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> takes when a remote SMTP client speaks before its turn within the time specified with the <a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_greet_wait">postscreen_greet_wait</a> parameter. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_greet_banner">postscreen_greet_banner</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_banner">smtpd_banner</a>)</b> The <i>text</i> in the optional "220-<i>text</i>..." server response that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> sends ahead of the real Postfix SMTP server's "220 text..." response, in an attempt to confuse bad SMTP clients so that they speak before their turn (pre-greet). <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_greet_wait">postscreen_greet_wait</a> (${stress?2}${stress:6}s)</b> The amount of time that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> will wait for an SMTP client to send a command before its turn, and for DNS blocklist lookup results to arrive (default: up to 2 seconds under stress, up to 6 seconds otherwise). <b><a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_service_name">smtpd_service_name</a> (smtpd)</b> The internal service that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> hands off allowed connections to. <b>AFTER-GREETING TESTS</b> These tests are executed after the remote SMTP client receives the "220 servername" greeting. If a client passes all tests during this phase, it will receive a 4XX response to RCPT TO commands until the client hangs up. After this, the client will be allowed to talk directly to a Postfix SMTP server process. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_bare_newline_action">postscreen_bare_newline_action</a> (ignore)</b> The action that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> takes when a remote SMTP client sends a bare newline character, that is, a newline not preceded by carriage return. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_bare_newline_enable">postscreen_bare_newline_enable</a> (no)</b> Enable "bare newline" SMTP protocol tests in the <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_disable_vrfy_command">postscreen_disable_vrfy_command</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#disable_vrfy_command">disable_vrfy_command</a>)</b> Disable the SMTP VRFY command in the <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> daemon. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_forbidden_commands">postscreen_forbidden_commands</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_forbidden_commands">smtpd_forbidden_commands</a>)</b> List of commands that the <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server con- siders in violation of the SMTP protocol. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_helo_required">postscreen_helo_required</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_helo_required">smtpd_helo_required</a>)</b> Require that a remote SMTP client sends HELO or EHLO before commencing a MAIL transaction. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_non_smtp_command_action">postscreen_non_smtp_command_action</a> (drop)</b> The action that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> takes when a remote SMTP client sends non-SMTP commands as specified with the <a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_forbidden_commands">postscreen_forbidden_commands</a> parameter. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_non_smtp_command_enable">postscreen_non_smtp_command_enable</a> (no)</b> Enable "non-SMTP command" tests in the <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_pipelining_action">postscreen_pipelining_action</a> (enforce)</b> The action that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> takes when a remote SMTP client sends multiple commands instead of sending one command and waiting for the server to respond. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_pipelining_enable">postscreen_pipelining_enable</a> (no)</b> Enable "pipelining" SMTP protocol tests in the <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server. <b>CACHE CONTROLS</b> <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_cache_cleanup_interval">postscreen_cache_cleanup_interval</a> (12h)</b> The amount of time between <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> cache cleanup runs. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_cache_map">postscreen_cache_map</a> (btree:$data_direc-</b> <b>tory/postscreen_cache)</b> Persistent storage for the <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server decisions. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_cache_retention_time">postscreen_cache_retention_time</a> (7d)</b> The amount of time that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> will cache an expired temporary whitelist entry before it is removed. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_bare_newline_ttl">postscreen_bare_newline_ttl</a> (30d)</b> The amount of time that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> will use the result from a successful "bare newline" SMTP proto- col test. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_dnsbl_ttl">postscreen_dnsbl_ttl</a> (1h)</b> The amount of time that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> will use the result from a successful DNS blocklist test. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_greet_ttl">postscreen_greet_ttl</a> (1d)</b> The amount of time that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> will use the result from a successful PREGREET test. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_non_smtp_command_ttl">postscreen_non_smtp_command_ttl</a> (30d)</b> The amount of time that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> will use the result from a successful "non_smtp_command" SMTP protocol test. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_pipelining_ttl">postscreen_pipelining_ttl</a> (30d)</b> The amount of time that <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> will use the result from a successful "pipelining" SMTP protocol test. <b>RESOURCE CONTROLS</b> <b><a href="postconf.5.html#line_length_limit">line_length_limit</a> (2048)</b> Upon input, long lines are chopped up into pieces of at most this length; upon delivery, long lines are reconstructed. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_client_connection_count_limit">postscreen_client_connection_count_limit</a></b> <b>($<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_client_connection_count_limit">smtpd_client_connection_count_limit</a>)</b> How many simultaneous connections any remote SMTP client is allowed to have with the <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> daemon. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_command_count_limit">postscreen_command_count_limit</a> (20)</b> The limit on the total number of commands per SMTP session for <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a>'s built-in SMTP protocol engine. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_command_time_limit">postscreen_command_time_limit</a> (${stress?10}${stress:300}s)</b> The time limit to read an entire command line with <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a>'s built-in SMTP protocol engine. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_post_queue_limit">postscreen_post_queue_limit</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#default_process_limit">default_process_limit</a>)</b> The number of clients that can be waiting for ser- vice from a real Postfix SMTP server process. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_pre_queue_limit">postscreen_pre_queue_limit</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#default_process_limit">default_process_limit</a>)</b> The number of non-whitelisted clients that can be waiting for a decision whether they will receive service from a real Postfix SMTP server process. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_watchdog_timeout">postscreen_watchdog_timeout</a> (10s)</b> How much time a <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> process may take to respond to a remote SMTP client command or to per- form a cache operation before it is terminated by a built-in watchdog timer. <b>STARTTLS CONTROLS</b> <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_tls_security_level">postscreen_tls_security_level</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_tls_security_level">smtpd_tls_security_level</a>)</b> The SMTP TLS security level for the <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> server; when a non-empty value is specified, this overrides the obsolete parameters <a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_use_tls">postscreen_use_tls</a> and <a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_enforce_tls">postscreen_enforce_tls</a>. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#tlsproxy_service_name">tlsproxy_service_name</a> (tlsproxy)</b> The name of the <a href="tlsproxy.8.html"><b>tlsproxy</b>(8)</a> service entry in mas- ter.cf. <b>OBSOLETE STARTTLS SUPPORT CONTROLS</b> These parameters are supported for compatibility with <a href="smtpd.8.html"><b>smtpd</b>(8)</a> legacy parameters. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_use_tls">postscreen_use_tls</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_use_tls">smtpd_use_tls</a>)</b> Opportunistic TLS: announce STARTTLS support to remote SMTP clients, but do not require that clients use TLS encryption. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#postscreen_enforce_tls">postscreen_enforce_tls</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_enforce_tls">smtpd_enforce_tls</a>)</b> Mandatory TLS: announce STARTTLS support to remote SMTP clients, and require that clients use TLS encryption. <b>MISCELLANEOUS CONTROLS</b> <b><a href="postconf.5.html#config_directory">config_directory</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b> The default location of the Postfix <a href="postconf.5.html">main.cf</a> and <a href="master.5.html">master.cf</a> configuration files. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#delay_logging_resolution_limit">delay_logging_resolution_limit</a> (2)</b> The maximal number of digits after the decimal point when logging sub-second delay values. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#command_directory">command_directory</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b> The location of all postfix administrative com- mands. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#max_idle">max_idle</a> (100s)</b> The maximum amount of time that an idle Postfix daemon process waits for an incoming connection before terminating voluntarily. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#process_id">process_id</a> (read-only)</b> The process ID of a Postfix command or daemon process. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#process_name">process_name</a> (read-only)</b> The process name of a Postfix command or daemon process. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#syslog_facility">syslog_facility</a> (mail)</b> The syslog facility of Postfix logging. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#syslog_name">syslog_name</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b> The mail system name that is prepended to the process name in syslog records, so that "smtpd" becomes, for example, "postfix/smtpd". <b>SEE ALSO</b> <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a>, Postfix SMTP server <a href="tlsproxy.8.html">tlsproxy(8)</a>, Postfix TLS proxy server <a href="dnsblog.8.html">dnsblog(8)</a>, DNS black/whitelist logger syslogd(8), system logging <b>README FILES</b> <a href="POSTSCREEN_README.html">POSTSCREEN_README</a>, Postfix Postscreen Howto <b>LICENSE</b> The Secure Mailer license must be distributed with this software. <b>HISTORY</b> This service was introduced with Postfix version 2.8. Many ideas in <a href="postscreen.8.html"><b>postscreen</b>(8)</a> were explored in earlier work by Michael Tokarev, in OpenBSD spamd, and in MailChannels Traffic Control. <b>AUTHOR(S)</b> Wietse Venema IBM T.J. Watson Research P.O. Box 704 Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA POSTSCREEN(8) </pre> </body> </html>